Natasha's death came without warning. Stark and Fury both went pale, instinctively standing back-to-back as they scanned their surroundings.
Mercer stepped forward to examine Natasha's injuries.
He turned Natasha over. Her death had been far more gruesome than he had imagined.
Blood flowed from her mouth, nose, eyes, and ears. Her eyes were still open.
If Mercer hadn't had a strong stomach, he might have flung her away at the sight.
He carefully examined her head. There were no obvious external injuries, only the eerie bleeding from every opening in her face.
"Could it be..."
Mercer released a wisp of spatial power to probe her brain. A few seconds later, his expression grew grave.
"Her brain's been completely destroyed!"
"JARVIS, seal the exits!" Stark shouted immediately.
The surrounding doors instantly locked shut.
"Invisibility? Telekinesis?"
Nick Fury drew the pistol at his waist and warily scanned his surroundings.
But no one attacked again.
Everything seemed to have gone quiet once more.
Mercer didn't know who could destroy someone's brain like this without damaging the surface of their body.
At the very least, he hadn't sensed anyone nearby using magic or superpowers.
"Looks like the enemy's already gone. We should be..."
Stark breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could finish, a tremendous force struck his face. It sent him flying backward into a nearby wall, and he coughed up a huge mouthful of blood.
"Stark!"
Nick Fury's eyes flickered with alarm, and he hurried over with his gun in hand.
Fortunately, Stark hadn't died from the strange impact. It had merely jarred his brain, possibly leaving him with a mild concussion.
"Who's doing this?!"
Helplessness welled up inside Nick Fury. He couldn't even see the attacker, yet the people around him were being struck or killed one after another. What